Since it was the fifteenth day of the lunar month and they were going to the Avalokitesvara Temple to offer incense, Song Yihuan changed her clothes before the appointed time, put on a veil hat, and led Song Yixuan out of the side gate of the Prince Ning's Mansion.
Outside the mansion, four carriages had been parked early in the morning.
The leading carriage was a fragrant sandalwood one with a treasure - topped and eaves - flying structure, pulled by four horses. The carriage body was spacious enough to seat five or six people. The one behind was a bit smaller, only able to accommodate two or three people, but it also had a treasure - topped and eaves - flying design and was made of fragrant sandalwood.
The last two carriages were not as eye - catching as the first two, but the materials of the carriages and the horses pulling them were all of the highest quality.
Song Yixuan had never seen such a grand sight before. He let out a surprised "Wow".
Song Yihuan was amused by him. She stroked his hair, then led him and stood quietly beside the last carriage, waiting.
After a while, she heard the hearty laughter of the Princess of Ning. A moment later, the princess was helped out of the main gate of the mansion by Ji Lingchuan and Song Nanxin.
"You, you really know how to make me happy. I thought you were a taciturn person, but I didn't expect you to be quite humorous," the princess said with a smile, holding Song Nanxin's hand. Guided by the servants, she walked towards the leading carriage.
Song Yihuan tightened her grip on her younger brother's hand slightly. Just as she was thinking whether she should step forward to pay respects, the princess stopped and looked in her direction.
"This is..."
Along with that came a sharp look.
Through the light veil of the hat, Song Yihuan saw Ji Lingchuan looking in her direction. Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly lowered her eyes to avoid his scrutiny.
Song Nanxin, who was beside the princess, naturally also noticed Song Yihuan and her younger brother. When her gaze fell on Song Yihuan, her smile suddenly froze.
The clothes Song Yihuan was wearing today were not the ones she had sent a few days ago!
And because of the veil hat, Song Yihuan wasn't wearing any jewelry in her hair!
This made her previously planned scheme fall through!
Song Nanxin suppressed her anger and said to the princess, "Mother, the other day I told you that I wanted to take my half - younger brother and half - younger sister to the Avalokitesvara Temple to pray on the fifteenth. You agreed."
The princess had actually forgotten about this. She said, "Yes, there was such a thing."
Hearing her elder sister mention them, Song Yihuan led her younger brother forward. They stopped about five steps away from the princess, curtsied, and said in a proper manner, "Song Yihuan from the Marquis Ding'an's Mansion pays respects to the princess."
Song Yixuan bowed with both hands in a proper manner and said, "Song Yixuan from the Marquis Ding'an's Mansion pays respects to the Goddess of Mercy."
As soon as he said this, everyone was stunned. The princess burst out laughing and said with a smile, pointing at Song Yixuan, "You little guy have a sweet mouth, but I can't be called the Goddess of Mercy. Boy, who taught you to say that?"
Although the princess didn't specify, everyone knew that she was implying that Song Yihuan had taught her younger brother to flatter her.
Others also covered their lips and laughed. Their gazes towards Song Yihuan and Song Yixuan were filled with a bit of contempt.
It was said that the half - younger brother and half - younger sister of the princess's daughter - in - law had a humble background, and their mother was a maid. Sure enough, their horizons were as shallow as a maid's. With just a little inquiry, one would know that the princess disliked glib people the most.
Song Yihuan didn't expect her younger brother's casual words to cause such a big reaction. She tightened her grip on her younger brother's hand and was about to kneel down to apologize when Song Yixuan said loudly, "No one taught me. I just thought so and said so."
He was only four years old, but he spoke clearly and articulately, looking very intelligent. The princess became a bit curious and asked, "Oh? Then why do you think I'm the Goddess of Mercy?"
Song Yixuan said seriously, "Xuan'er has a weak body and has never been on a long journey or been to the Avalokitesvara Temple. Fourth sister said that if I go to the temple, the Goddess of Mercy will bless Xuan'er to be healthy and grow up safely. But without you, Xuan'er couldn't go to the temple. In Xuan'er's eyes, you are as kind - hearted as the Goddess of Mercy, so you are also the Goddess of Mercy."
The princess looked surprised and sized Song Yixuan up carefully. She found that although he looked a bit thin, his eyes were extremely bright. When he looked at her, there was no timidity or flattery, only sincerity. She completely changed her opinion of him.
At first, she really thought that a child as young as Song Yixuan wouldn't say something like "Goddess of Mercy". Someone must have deliberately taught him to flatter her. But now it seemed that she and this little guy were fated.
She smiled and waved at Song Yixuan, "Boy, come here."
Song Yixuan looked up at Song Yihuan. Song Yihuan let go of his hand and gently pushed his shoulder, "Go."
Song Yixuan took small steps towards the princess. The princess stretched out her hand to the nanny beside her. The nanny immediately understood and put a gold lock in her palm. The princess hung the gold lock around Song Yixuan's neck and pinched his cheek, saying,
"This gold lock is for you. The Goddess of Mercy will surely bless you to grow up safely and healthily."
Song Yixuan looked at the gold lock around his neck, then looked up at the princess and smiled, "Thank you, Goddess of Mercy. Xuan'er will also kowtow a few more times for you when I get to the Avalokitesvara Temple."
The princess laughed even more heartily. She said to Song Nanxin, "Daughter - in - law, your younger brother is really an interesting person. If I had known he was so fun, you should have brought him to keep me company."
Song Nanxin watched this scene, secretly gritting her teeth. She had originally planned to make the princess's impression of these two siblings even worse. She didn't expect that this sickly boy would catch the princess's eye. She regretted suggesting that they go to the temple with them.
But she had to pretend to be happy. She supported Song Yixuan's shoulder and said with a smile, "Thank you, mother, for caring about Xuan'er. It's Xuan'er's fortune to receive your blessing and the gold lock."
Ji Lingchuan's gaze had been on Song Yihuan from beginning to end.
From the moment they appeared, she had always been very calm. She didn't try to flatter when paying respects, and when her younger brother received a reward, she didn't seem to want to show herself. She was almost invisible.
Would such a person steal her sister's things and flirt with guests everywhere at the banquet?
Ji Lingchuan's gaze was so intense that Song Yihuan felt extremely uncomfortable. She noticed that he was sizing her up, and his gaze showed no concern of a man for a woman, but rather a bit of scrutiny.
Did he discover something? Song Yihuan lowered her head slightly, using the veil hat to avoid his direct gaze.
When Song Yixuan returned to her side, she took his hand, curtsied to the princess again, then led her younger brother and turned to walk towards the last carriage. Only when the shadow - like gaze finally disappeared did Song Yihuan secretly let out a sigh of relief.